Paul Smith

Paul Smith’s introduction into fashion was completely accidental. As a teenager his real ambition was to become a professional racing cyclist. At 17 years old he was in a terrible accident and after he recovered he was with some friends from an arts college when he found his real calling – fashion. Within two years, Paul Smith was managing his first boutique in Nottingham and with the encouragement of his girlfriend Pauline Denyer (now his wife) and a small amount of savings, opened a tiny shop in 1970. By 1976 Paul showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label.

The London-based designer is known for taking classic school girl and school boy looks and injecting his own brand of humor with super-bright stripes, loud prints, contrasting colors and fabrics, and sharp tailoring. Fans include Parker Posey, Jude Law and Matthew McConaughey.